Letter: Bigger threat to electrical grid

Wednesday

Mar 7, 2018 at 3:12 PMMar 7, 2018 at 3:12 PM

We have only to look at the devastation and loss of hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria to be alarmed at the potential loss because of an EMP (electromagnetic pulse), solar flare and/or computer attack on our electrical grid.

I have heard an estimate of 90 percent of our population would die within a year. Think of all the ramifications of not having electricity and having most electrical components fried — no electrical pumps for fuel and water, no transportation, no communication — all electrically dependent. It is estimated it would take many months to get replacement transformers, most manufactured overseas.

The hardening of our electrical grid is endorsed by the National Academy of Sciences. The cost is estimated at $2 billion. The cost seems minor considering the loss of life, loss of our lifestyle and the damage to our economy. For the cost of less than a third of an F-35 squadron (eight airplanes at $250 million per plane) we could harden the grid — small price for the protection provided. What good are 2,663 F-35s when almost the whole country would be devastated by an attack on the electrical grid?

Although we are alarmed by a North Korea attack, it might be more threatening and devastating to create an EMP.

There is much talk today of building the “wall,” protection of our electrical grid is far more important. The choice of this devastating attack could also be enacted by the Chinese, Russians or the Iranians. In these troubled times, we need to wake up, sense the urgency and harden and protect our electrical grid — the cost to life, property and the economy is unimaginable and beyond comprehension — an existential threat that would be CATASTROPHIC.